Medicine can treat infections after people get sick, but 性视界传媒 infectious disease expert Mollie Jewett is seeking to halt Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which causes Lyme disease, in its tracks without relying on general antibiotics. Her goal: 鈥渟tarve鈥� the bacteria of the nutrients they need to function before they spread through the human body.

Jewett, professor and head of the Immunity and Pathogenesis Research Division at 性视界传媒鈥檚 College of Medicine, is supported by a recently renewed five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

She is entering a third consecutive federally funded research cycle with $513,314 received this year. Jewett鈥檚 research builds upon more than a decade of discoveries that have narrowed the search for ways to stop B. burgdorferi from triggering Lyme disease, one of the nation鈥檚 most common vector-borne diseases. Her team includes a 性视界传媒 undergraduate who occasionally struggled to walk because of pain from Lyme disease.

The disease is spread by blacklegged ticks that become infected after biting mammals or birds carrying the bacteria. The ticks are so small, humans often don鈥檛 notice they have been bitten. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache and fatigue, which often are misdiagnosed as a virus or the flu. Even after treatment, Lyme disease patients can face complications including nervous system and heart issues, severe fatigue and arthritic pain.

The disease is most commonly found in Maine to Virginia and in the upper Midwest but is spreading as suburban growth enters wildlife areas. 性视界传媒 reports few cases of Lyme disease annually, but travelers who go to endemic areas like New England are at increased risk.

A New Approach to Battle Borrelia

性视界传媒 researchers are focused on how B. burgdorferi manages to survive and thrive as it spreads in ticks and mammals to humans.

鈥淭he bacteria need to adapt to two different environments, and so we want to know how it does that,鈥� Jewett says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at what the bacteria eat and what it needs to survive. In our lab, we call Borrelia a wimpy pathogen because it can鈥檛 make a lot of the nutrients it needs on its own, and so it scavenges what it needs from wherever it is.鈥�

The first iteration of the NIH grant allowed the scientists to screen all of the bacteria鈥檚 genes that might be important for the infection. With the second grant, Jewett targeted three genes that appeared to play a role in spreading the infection from a bite on the skin to other parts of the human body.

“One of these three genes we found is important to the ability of the bacteria to consume riboflavin. We want to target this gene and see if we can starve the bacteria.” 鈥� Mollie Jewett, 性视界传媒 infectious disease expert

Now they have focused on riboflavin, commonly known as vitamin B2, after discovering that B. burgdorferi salvages the vitamin from each host to sustain itself.

鈥淥ne of these three genes we found is important to the ability of the bacteria to consume riboflavin,鈥� Jewett says. 鈥淲e know that riboflavin is a precursor for other cellular activities that are important to the metabolism of the bacteria. Essentially, we want to target this gene and see if we can starve the bacteria.鈥�

If their theory is successful, it could lead to therapies specific to B. burgdorferi that would prevent successful bacterial infection by limiting its riboflavin uptake. An advantage of such potential treatments would be that patients don鈥檛 have to take general antibiotics that can also harm the body鈥檚 good bacteria and increase risks for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The 性视界传媒 team is collaborating with Baylor University scientists to trace exactly how riboflavin is used by the bacteria.

Students Driving Discovery

Biomedical sciences doctoral student Anna Schulz 鈥�25MS played a key role in pinpointing specific ways the bacteria use riboflavin to generate energy. She served as first author on a recent publication examining these processes, and says she鈥檚 looking forward to growing as a researcher in this next phase.

鈥淎s a first author, I took more ownership over the experiments and the writing process,鈥� Schulz says. 鈥淸Jewett] was really great about letting me lead the project as a student. Borrelia is so unique, and there鈥檚 still so much we don鈥檛 know, and that鈥檚 what keeps me engaged with this research.鈥�

“… I couldn鈥檛 treat it until years after I got infected. So, I truly care about finding new treatments for Lyme disease.” 鈥� Grace Easterling, 性视界传媒 biomedical sciences student

Third-year biomedical sciences undergraduate Grace Easterling says she was drawn to Jewett鈥檚 lab because she previously developed Lyme disease and suffered tremendous joint pain. She was determined to find a way to protect others.

鈥淚t was something that, because we live in 性视界传媒, wasn鈥檛 caught early because it鈥檚 not as common,鈥� Easterling says. 鈥淚 struggled for a long time to get diagnosed, and I couldn鈥檛 treat it until years after I got infected. So, I truly care about finding new treatments for Lyme disease and understanding the bacteria.鈥�

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01AI099094. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

• Associate Professor Chen Chen 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Ivan Garibay ’00MS ’04PhD 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Jayanta Kapat 鈥� Full Member
• Professor Damla Turgut 鈥� Full Member
• Associate Professor Thomas Wahl 鈥� Associate Member
• Associate Professor Dazhong Wu 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Xiaohu Xia 鈥� Associate Member
• Professor Yang Yang 鈥� Associate Member

Full members are recognized as established leaders with a sustained record of exceptional impact in their respective fields. Associate members, who are new to ASEMFL this year, are recognized for their professional accomplishments and emerging leadership.

鈥淲e are proud to welcome this exceptional group of scholars and innovators to ASEMFL, including our inaugural class of associate members,鈥� says Yogi Goswami, ASEMFL president and distinguished professor at the University of South 性视界传媒. 鈥淭heir lifelong dedication and creativity have led to transformational advances in their fields, improving lives and strengthening our communities.鈥�

Since its establishment, ASEMFL has grown to more than 300 experts grounded in common research and educational pursuits who are committed to undertaking issues in science, engineering and medicine of particular interest to the state.

This year鈥檚 cohort is the largest in ASEMFL history. All new members will be inducted at the ASEMFL annual meeting, which takes place in November at the University of South 性视界传媒.

Chen Chen

Associate Professor in the and the Institute of Artificial Intelligence

Citation: For pioneering contributions to multimodal and federated learning and real-time, privacy-preserving video analytics, advancing trustworthy and efficient AI systems for public safety, healthcare, and societal well-being.

Jayanta Kapat

Pegasus Professor and Director of the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research

Citation: For innovative research and digital twin modeling and their impact on improved costs, efficiency and emissions in advanced turbines and energy systems.

Nasser Kutkut

Graduate Faculty Scholar in the

Citation: For having pioneered high-efficiency and IoT-enabled battery charging systems, cloud-based energy management, and smart telematics platforms 鈥� technologies that cut costs, reduce emissions, and modernize industrial and electric vehicle power management worldwide.

Ivan Garibay ’00MS ’04PhD

Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and Director of the 性视界传媒 Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Initiative

Citation: For pioneering work in AI for modeling complex human behavior, including the development of inverse generative social science, evolutionary model discovery, green technological innovation, and AI for social resilience against disinformation and polarization.

Damla Turgut

Pegasus Professor and Chair of Computer Science

Citation: For pioneering contributions to the application of value of information in wireless networks, and for outstanding leadership in advancing research and education at both the university and international professional society levels.

Thomas Wahl

Associate Professor in the and the Center for Integrated Coastal Research

Citation: For pioneering work on flood risk analysis, coastal compound flooding and assessment of coastal hazards at multiple scales under weather extremes.

Dazhong Wu

Associate Professor in the

Citation: For contributions to the development and implementation of machine learning-based techniques for part qualification and certification in advanced manufacturing.

Xiaohu Xia

Professor in the

Citation: For pioneering artificial enzyme research, achieving unprecedented catalytic efficiencies and developing diagnostic technologies with substantial clinical and societal impact.

鈥淒r. Xia鈥檚 research is an excellent example of how cutting-edge research in the College of Sciences leads directly into transformative applications for the betterment of humanity,鈥� says Josh Colwell, College of Sciences dean. 鈥淗is recognition by ASEMFL is particularly appropriate given the nature of his innovative work combining nanomaterials and fundamental chemistry research for healthcare applications that will directly impact people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

Yang Yang

Professor in the

Citation: For being an accomplished scholar in developing energy materials using nanotechnology.

Driving Research Excellence at 性视界传媒

Together, the honorees exemplify the breadth of research excellence driving innovation across 性视界传媒’s College of Sciences and College of Engineering and Computer Science.

鈥淛ay Kapat, Damla Turgut, Chen Chen, Ivan Garibay, Thomas Wahl, Dazhong Wu, Yang Yang and all faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science have contributed significantly to the research and education in their disciplines and their induction to the academy is a testament [to] their meaningful accomplishments,鈥� says Michael Georgiopoulos, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean. 鈥淭he academy is expected to benefit from their expertise and their anticipated service to move its mission forward.鈥�

鈥淚 saw what she means to her community,鈥� says Dostal, who comes to 性视界传媒 from the University of Washington. 鈥淎nd I wanted to do the same thing for my community.鈥�

Dostal was one of 120 new 性视界传媒 College of Medicine students who received their white coats Monday in a traditional celebration that welcomes them as partners in healthcare.

Chosen from 5,422 applicants, the 120 new M.D. candidates received their undergraduate degrees from Yale, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Duke, Case Western and Emory in addition to 性视界传媒. They include scientists, artists, musicians, athletes, global volunteers and EMTs.

Monday was the 18th White Coat Ceremony in the history of the medical school, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In his welcome, 性视界传媒 President Alexander N. Cartwright described 鈥渨hat began as a bold vision on undeveloped land in Lake Nona has grown into a thriving Academic Health Sciences Campus and a community focused on improving lives.鈥�

And he credited that growth to Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and founding dean, who has announced her transition from both roles. Monday was her last White Coat Ceremony.

鈥淒r. German helped transform an ambitious vision into the college you join today,鈥� he told students, parents, faculty and staff. 鈥淏ecause of her leadership, hundreds of physicians have begun their careers here, thousands of patients have been served, and new partnerships, discoveries, and opportunities have taken shape across Lake Nona and our state. Dr. German, your remarkable legacy will always hold a special place at 性视界传媒.鈥�

The Good Doctor

For every White Coat Ceremony, German has conducted the first class of medical school called 鈥淭he Good Doctor 鈥� A 性视界传媒 Tradition.鈥�

She asks first-year students to imagine the person they love most in the world is seriously ill with an undiagnosed condition. What are the traits they want to see in the doctor caring for their beloved? As students name attributes, German writes each word on a blackboard that is displayed in the College of Medicine atrium for the entire year.

The class of 2030 suggested 38 traits, including聽humble, trustworthy, dedicated, knowledgeable, ethical, determined, compassionate, resilient and innovative.

鈥淭his is your聽contract聽with your聽faculty,聽friends,聽family, community聽and聽each other,鈥� German said, pointing to the board. 鈥淎lways remember, The Good Doctor lives in each of you. With the聽guidance of the faculty聽and聽your own hard work, you will become The Good Doctor.鈥�

Inspired to Care for Others

As a 性视界传媒 undergraduate, Nelson Jones earned the Order of Pegasus, the university鈥檚 top student honor. Today he is a physician-in-training. Both of his parents are nurses, and he described how their care of others 鈥� especially in communities of need 鈥� inspired him. So did the opportunities 性视界传媒 provides.

鈥淚鈥檓 feeling extremely grateful and excited,鈥� he said after receiving his white coat. 鈥淭his university has built me into the person I am and will continue to build me into the physician I strive to become.鈥�

Vivian Silva-Dallenbach graduated from the University of South 性视界传媒 with degrees in biomedical sciences and astronomy. She chose 性视界传媒 for medical school because of the college鈥檚 new aerospace medicine program. She鈥檚 researched how space flight affects the human body.

鈥淥nce I saw that 性视界传媒 has an aerospace medicine program, I knew it was a match,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 particularly interested in women鈥檚 health and how we can provide specialized care for female astronauts.鈥�

Dev Patel, another 性视界传媒 alum, says his dreams are inspired by the College of Medicine鈥檚 founding dean. 鈥淚 would like to take a page out of German鈥檚 book. She started with almost nothing to work with and she built something amazing here. So as we have such a long road in front of us, I鈥檓 hoping to follow in her footsteps and even have a fraction of the impact she did.鈥�

Minutes from one of the world鈥檚 most visited airports, 性视界传媒 has opened a new clinic to help pilots meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical requirements to fly safely.

The new University of Central 性视界传媒 Aerospace Medicine Clinic at 性视界传媒 Health Faculty Physician Practice in Lake Nona is led by William 鈥淓d鈥� Powers, chief medical officer of 性视界传媒鈥檚 and a certified aviation medical examiner.

Pilots operating civilian aircraft must have various levels of FAA medical certification depending on the type of aircraft. Commercial pilots must pass the exam every six months or each year.

鈥淔light safety depends on healthy pilots,鈥� says Powers, who is certified to conduct the highest level of FAA exams. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 ultimately what we鈥檙e here to support.鈥�

“Here at 性视界传媒, we are … connecting medicine, engineering, research and industry in ways few universities can.” 鈥� 性视界传媒 President Alexander N. Cartwright

性视界传媒 President Alexander N. Cartwright says the clinic is an example of the university鈥檚 mission to educate talent, advance discovery and solve societal challenges that matter.

鈥淭he next era of flight will bring new demands on health and human performance,鈥� Cartwright says. 鈥淗ere at 性视界传媒, we are meeting those challenges by connecting medicine, engineering, research and industry in ways few universities can.鈥�

What sets this clinic apart from others is its ability to more efficiently address the health needs of pilots thanks to a network of 性视界传媒 College of Medicine faculty physicians, university officials say.

The clinic marked its opening with a ceremony today.

Assessing Safety and Minimizing Risk

Medical clearance for pilots is 鈥渁ll about risk,鈥� Powers says. 鈥淭he FAA has to assess the risk of a pilot experiencing a sudden incapacitation while flying. That鈥檚 really what these exams are focused on.鈥�

For that reason, the 性视界传媒 clinic will not focus on diagnosing disease, but on identifying and acting on any condition that might endanger pilot, crew and passenger safety.

In addition to a physical exam, pilots must pass hearing and vision tests, including demonstrating that they are not color blind. Airline pilots receive an electrocardiogram every year, while other pilots, like hobbyists, may receive an electrocardiogram if there is evidence of heart disease. Physicians also review medical history and discuss any health concerns that could affect flight safety.

Even manageable chronic conditions like high blood pressure can temporarily delay certification until the condition is treated, stabilized and controlled.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e flying an airplane, you don鈥檛 have the luxury of pulling over and waiting for help like if you鈥檙e a truck driver,鈥� Powers says. 鈥淵ou must be aware at all times. If you鈥檙e responsible for an aircraft full of passengers, the FAA wants to minimize the chance of a sudden incapacitation.鈥�

A Vast Network of Expertise

Complicated medical cases are referred to the FAA for further review, and pilots may need additional interventions to meet certification standards. That鈥檚 where the College of Medicine鈥檚 physician practice offers a distinct advantage, Powers says.

“We can guide pilots to the specialists and testing they need and help them get back on the path toward medical clearance.” 鈥� William “Ed” Powers, chief medical officer of the CASEEM

Unlike private clinics that do pilot certification exams, 性视界传媒 offers multiple medical specialties under one roof and a team approach to care.

鈥淲e can guide pilots to the specialists and testing they need and help them get back on the path toward medical clearance,鈥� Powers says.

Powers brings decades of expertise in space and aviation medicine. Before joining 性视界传媒, he was chief of NASA鈥檚 Medical Operations Branch, director of flight medicine for Axiom Space and director of the aerospace medicine residency program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Powers also worked inside the FAA as a supervisory medical officer. He says that experience gives him a firm understanding of what the FAA requires, making the process smoother for everyone.

鈥淭hat means fewer delays, fewer mistakes in paperwork and a more efficient process for pilots whose livelihoods depend on getting certified,鈥� he says.

Strengthening the Regional Aviation Ecosystem

Another 性视界传媒 advantage: the clinic is only about 10 miles from Orlando International Airport, which welcomes 58 million travelers annually. So in addition to local aviators, pilots nationwide who travel to and through Orlando could easily schedule their certification exams at 性视界传媒.

“Clinics like 性视界传媒鈥檚 Aerospace Medicine Clinic [are] helping pilots, whether in space or on the ground, access the care and medical certification support they need to remain flight-ready.” 鈥� Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

The clinic will help strengthen the aviation training pipeline in one of the nation鈥檚 most active aerospace regions. This capability is especially important for local flight schools whose students may require guidance in navigating medical certification, return-to-flight concerns and the health demands of aviation careers.

鈥淐entral 性视界传媒鈥檚 aviation ecosystem is built on more than runways, terminals and launchpads,鈥� says Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which manages Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports. 鈥淚t also depends on the people and services that keep aviation moving safely and efficiently. Clinics like 性视界传媒鈥檚 Aerospace Medicine Clinic complement that ecosystem by helping pilots, whether in space or on the ground, access the care and medical certification support they need to remain flight-ready.鈥�

The clinic is embedded in Central 性视界传媒鈥檚 bustling travel hub with numerous satellite airports, including Kissimmee Gateway Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport. Giving pilots another option to get cleared to fly strengthens the regional economy, says Shaun Germolus, director of aviation for the Kissimmee facility.

鈥淭he aviation industry in Central 性视界传媒 provides a major economic impact to the region,鈥� Germolus says. 鈥淭he medical exams and certificates provided by the 性视界传媒 Aerospace Medicine Clinic will be very valuable to ensure our aviation professionals are healthy and readily available to serve.鈥�

Launching the Clinic

The clinic is starting with limited Thursday and Friday morning appointments to allow the team to refine operations before expanding. Helping coordinate those efforts is Camila Niebla 鈥�26, a 性视界传媒 health sciences graduate who now serves as the clinic鈥檚 aerospace medicine navigator.

Niebla discovered aerospace medicine by accident while exploring future career paths before applying to medical school.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know aerospace medicine was a possibility,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in performance-driven medicine, like sports medicine, so this felt really exciting. It鈥檚 exciting to be part of something from the beginning and watch it grow.鈥�

Part of a Larger Vision for Aerospace Medicine at 性视界传媒

The clinic is part of 性视界传媒鈥檚 , which is being developed as a comprehensive academic, clinical, research, education, and operational platform to support the future of aviation, commercial spaceflight, and human space exploration.

鈥淭his is about building the medical infrastructure required for the next era of flight, both on Earth and in space,鈥� says Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for aerospace medicine at the 性视界传媒 College of Medicine. 鈥淥ur goal is to create a program that is not only academic, but operational and translational in nature 鈥� one that supports student pilots, flight schools, commercial aviation, spaceflight providers and the broader aerospace ecosystem.鈥�

Schedule an Appointment

to learn more about FAA medical exams at 性视界传媒 Health Faculty Physician Practice and schedule an appointment online.

Studies have shown the condition affects nearly one in four women worldwide and is linked to dozens of potential disorders involving multiple organ systems. Yet many healthcare providers receive only limited training in diagnosing the source of pain, often leaving patients facing years of uncertainty, repeated testing and ineffective treatments before receiving the right diagnosis.

A yearlong collaboration between a 性视界传媒 physician-scientist and two biomedical sciences undergraduate students aims to create a better environment for doctors and patients to reach an understanding together. Biomedical sciences students Sarah Gabriela Nieto Chavarro and second-year Juliana Dimetry interned with Georgine Lamvu, a 性视界传媒 College of Medicine volunteer professor of obstetrics and gynecology, to transform years of international research into a practical tool to help clinicians evaluate patients more quickly and confidently.

The team is developing an AI-assisted clinical questionnaire application that guides physicians through a patient’s symptoms and identifies which organ systems and conditions should be examined. Rather than replacing a physician鈥檚 judgment, the application compiles patient histories quickly to help guide physicians toward making a clearer diagnosis.

From International Research to a Practical Tool

Despite the prevalence of CPP, many healthcare providers lack specialized training in diagnosing the underlying condition because symptoms often overlap with gastrointestinal, urinary, musculoskeletal and reproductive disorders.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that this can become easy to use and can take a detailed medical history that could take an hour to get through down to just 5 to 10 minutes.鈥� 鈥� Georgine Lamvu, volunteer professor and Orlando VA practitioner

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that this can become easy to use and can take a detailed medical history that could take an hour to get through down to just 5 to 10 minutes,鈥� says Lamvu, who practices at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Orlando and directs its gynecological surgery fellowship program and center. 鈥淭hat allows physicians to have a more efficient evaluation and spend more time with the patient.鈥�

The center is a pioneering program designed to address the growing demand for specialized gynecologic care among women veterans. As the number of women veterans using VA healthcare services is expected to increase significantly, this fellowship and center aims to train highly skilled gynecologists to meet their healthcare needs within the VA system and beyond.

As part of that initiative, this project builds upon nearly five years of work led by Lamvu alongside an international coalition of physicians, researchers and patient advocacy groups.

Their research culminated in an international consensus called R U MOVING SOMe, an acronym that categorizes the broad range of symptoms associated with chronic pelvic pain and is the basis of the AI-tool Lamvu and her team developed.

Finding a Definitive Diagnosis

Lamvu says the team translated the clinical research into the logic behind a chatbot-style application that asks fewer than 20 targeted questions. Physicians enter a patient鈥檚 symptoms and history into the program, which then suggests the organ systems and conditions most likely responsible for the pain, helping clinicians focus their evaluation.

The team plans to expand the application beyond patient questionnaires by incorporating physical examination findings into the same scoring system. Ultimately, the researchers say they hope it can be used in any practice that serves women, but it may be years away from being realized.

鈥淧hysicians just need a way of processing all the information that comes from the patient to narrow it down to a differential diagnosis,鈥� Lamvu says. 鈥淩ight now, it鈥檚 all too common to see healthcare workers panic a little when they hear a patient has chronic pelvic pain because it’s considered a complex condition.鈥�

An Inspiring Internship

The students sifted through years of research and developed the logic for the AI in less than a year. Given the complexity of CPP and the vast amount of data, Lamvu says she is impressed by Dimetry and Nieto Chavarro.

鈥淭hey learned valuable lessons, like if you see a problem that seems unsolvable to everyone else and that directly and negatively impacts patients, you have the power to do something about it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hese are experiences not every student gets to have, especially this early on in their life.鈥�

Dimetry says she challenge intrigued her, and that she was drawn to the project for the opportunity to be at the forefront of medicine and emerging technology.

鈥淚 think that adapting the field of medicine to AI in ways such as this project is necessary to keep medicine growing and advancing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 also saw how impactful this project could be if done successfully, and I wanted to be a part of that and make a difference,鈥�

For Nieto Chavarro, who graduates Summer 2026, the experience showed her how to use technology to help deliver compassionate patient care.

鈥淥n a personal level, this experience has taught me to keep going and to never give up,鈥� Nieto Chavarro says. 鈥淎ll of this has ultimately reinforced how essential it is to genuinely listen to patients so they feel safe and understood鈥�

Three 性视界传媒 graduates have been selected for the Orlando Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care nurse practitioner residency, a highly competitive postgraduate training program at the nation鈥檚 fourth-largest VA medical center.

Only three residents are selected annually from a pool of applicants to participate in the program, in which 性视界传媒 has had consistent representation since its inception. This year, all three spots were awarded to 性视界传媒 graduates 鈥� including two who earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) this Saturday during a 性视界传媒 Summer 2026 commencement ceremony.

For , Melissa Fajardo 鈥�11 鈥�23 and Nancy Saintil 鈥�10MS 鈥�25DNP 鈥� three first-generation college graduates and two first-generation Americans 鈥� it鈥檚 a career opportunity forged in hard work and shaped by an education at 性视界传媒.

鈥淭his milestone represents years of perseverance, faith, growth and the encouragement of people who believed in my potential,鈥� says Alliance, is among the more than 300 nursing students graduating from 性视界传媒 this week. 鈥淚t is also a reflection of the mentorship, opportunity and support I received throughout my education at 性视界传媒.鈥�

“These three 性视界传媒 graduates are highly qualified and will excel in both their residency and future careers as nurse practitioners.鈥� 鈥� Jacqueline LaManna 鈥�13PhD, 性视界传媒 director of adult primary care nurse practitioner programs

The one-year program is designed to ease the transition into independent practice for newly graduated, licensed nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioner residents rotate through clinical settings with structured mentorship to help care for the 149,000 veterans served by the Orlando VA Healthcare System.

鈥淭his program requires advanced clinical practice, scholarship and leadership skills,” 聽says Jacqueline LaManna 鈥�13PhD, 性视界传媒’s director of the adult primary care nurse practitioner programs. “These three 性视界传媒 graduates are highly qualified and will excel in both their residency and future careers as nurse practitioners.鈥�

鈥溞允咏绱� prepares nurse practitioners for success,” adds Jonathan Decker, director of the family nurse practitioner program. 鈥淥ur graduates鈥� consistently surpass national first-time pass rate averages on board certifications and many secure employment or advanced training opportunities before graduation 鈥� just like these three.鈥�

The graduates will begin their residency this fall at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, minutes away from 性视界传媒鈥檚 new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion. The state-of-the-art facility is helping address critical nursing shortages 鈥� awarding more than 900 nursing degrees in the last academic year.

For Saintil, the wife of a veteran, the opportunity is deeply personal.

鈥淭hrough my exposure to the VA healthcare system, I have seen firsthand the positive impact it has on the lives of America鈥檚 veterans,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am inspired by the VA鈥檚 commitment to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care and honored to contribute to that mission.鈥�

Together with their cohort, the three new Knight nurse practitioners are joining one of the nation鈥檚 fastest-growing occupations and meeting increasing demand in 性视界传媒. Driven by physician shortages and a growing and aging population, the growth rate of nurse practitioners in the Sunshine State is projected to be 41.6% by 2034.

Meet them here.

Mimi Alliance 鈥�22

What inspired your nursing career?
From an early age, I knew I wanted a career in healthcare where I could make a meaningful difference in people鈥檚 lives. As I聽grew older, I became drawn to the structure and mission of public service, particularly organizations with the ability to improve health at both the individual and community level.

How did 性视界传媒 prepare you for practice?
性视界传媒 prepared me through academic rigor, diverse clinical training, faculty mentorship and meaningful opportunities to serve the community. 性视界传媒鈥檚 Family Nurse Practitioner doctoral program challenged me to strengthen my clinical reasoning, communicate clearly, and think beyond the walls of the clinic.

For example, my doctoral project provided hearing screenings for older adults in Central 性视界传媒 based in 性视界传媒鈥檚 Mobile Health Clinic. Working alongside faculty, providers, audiologists, students and community partners taught me how collaboration can improve preventive care.

As a student who carried significant responsibility early in life, being part of the 性视界传媒 community allowed me to fully experience scholarship, service, leadership and connection.

In the future鈥�
My long-term goal is to become an exceptional family nurse practitioner known for compassionate, whole-person care, strong clinical reasoning and meaningful relationships with patients over time.

I also see education as part of my professional identity and hope to continue mentoring future nurses and nurse practitioner students.

Melissa Fajardo 鈥�11 鈥�23

What inspired your nursing career?
Nursing is my second career. I initially worked as a first responder and worked with the Orange County Corrections Department for more than 20 years.

I was inspired to pursue a nursing career after watching my grandparents transition through life in the care of the most genuine and loving hospice nursing staff.

How did 性视界传媒 prepare you for practice?
性视界传媒 has been instrumental in my education. I grew up in Massachusetts and was the first in my family to consider attending college. I chose 性视界传媒 for my first degree and have continued to choose 性视界传媒. I love the campus and the education.

The mentorship of my professors, especially in the doctoral program, has given me the confidence to believe in my ability to pursue a higher-level role.

In the future鈥�
After completing the residency, my goal is to secure a full-time position with the VA as a family nurse practitioner in one of the primary care clinics in Central 性视界传媒.

I come from a long line of veterans, beginning with my grandfather who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and providing care to veterans is an incredible privilege. While we can never fully repay them for their sacrifices, I believe we have a responsibility to honor them by providing compassionate, high-quality, and respectful healthcare. I want to become the kind of provider who not only manages chronic illnesses, but also empowers veterans to take an active role in their health and ensures they always feel heard, respected and valued.

Nancy Saintil 鈥�10MSN 鈥�25DNP

What inspired your nursing career?
My mom was a nursing assistant, and she encouraged me to pursue a career in the profession. I remember as a child watching her with patients, and I wanted to care for others as she did.

After nearly 16 years in nursing and following my father鈥檚 stroke, I felt called to expand my role in patient care. That experience inspired me to become a stronger advocate for vulnerable populations, including those who may struggle to access or trust the healthcare system.

As a nurse practitioner, I hope to make a meaningful difference by providing compassionate, patient-centered care and serving as a voice for those who need it most.

How did 性视界传媒 prepare you for practice?
性视界传媒 prepared me for my career as a primary care nurse practitioner by combining strong academic instruction with meaningful clinical experiences.

Many of the faculty are practicing nurse practitioners, which allowed them to bring real-world experiences into the classroom. Their expertise, mentorship, and commitment to student success helped bridge the gap between theory and practice and strengthened my readiness to enter clinical practice.

Through rigorous coursework, hands-on lab experiences, and strong clinical partnerships, I gained exposure to diverse patient populations and healthcare settings.

These experiences have equipped me with the foundational knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to the VA.

In the future鈥�
Upon completion of the residency, I hope to continue serving veterans within the VA healthcare system and build a fulfilling career in primary care, providing compassionate, evidence-based care.

性视界传媒 Professor Michal Masternak and his team have identified molecular changes in the liver that happen when space travelers experience radiation and microgravity. These changes 鈥� that resemble accelerated aging 鈥� provide new insight into how prolonged space missions may increase health risks for astronauts and reveal potential targets for therapies that could combat age-related diseases on Earth.

鈥淛ust 24 hours after radiation exposure, there are many genetic changes in the liver that are remarkably similar to what happens during aging.鈥� 鈥� Professor Michal Masternak

鈥淲e focused on the liver because it is one of the major metabolic organs in our body,鈥� says Masternak, leader of the College of Medicine鈥檚 aging and space medicine research efforts. 鈥淲hat we found was that just 24 hours after radiation exposure, there are many genetic changes in the liver that are remarkably similar to what happens during aging. We can assume that if someone were in space much longer, the damage could be much greater.鈥�

The findings were recently published in聽GeroScience.

Navigating the Science

For their study, 性视界传媒 researchers and scientists from the U.S. created a simulated deep space environment in the lab. The team exposed animal models to simulated microgravity for 14 days and galactic cosmic radiation and solar particle events at NASA Space Radiation Laboratory trying to mimic the dosage that astronauts would be exposed to during a trip to Mars.

The exposure triggered noticeable and potentially harmful changes in the liver, including increased cellular senescence (aging and decreased cell function), inflammation and fibrosis. Left untreated, these conditions can eventually lead to declining and even failing organ function.

The research team then compared their results with data collected from astronaut blood samples taken during the NASA Twins Study and Inspiration4 astronauts. They saw similar genetic changes in blood.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got this raw data from human studies, and they show that some of these changes are similar,鈥� Masternak says. 鈥淭hat tells us we鈥檙e identifying useful molecular targets that one day could help protect astronauts during long-duration space missions.鈥�

They聽also聽went a step further to see聽whether the聽changes could be treated. They聽identified聽a group of molecules known as antagomirs that alter several aging and inflammatory genetic pathways聽by interacting with the body鈥檚聽microRNA. This system could pinpoint promising聽future聽therapies for space travelers.

Understanding Aging in the Space Age

Masternak says聽the nation鈥檚聽growing space industry provides a unique opportunity to study aging at an accelerated pace.

鈥淰ery often when we study different aging processes, it takes time,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ven in humans, it鈥檚 almost impossible because it would take decades. But if we see some acceleration of aging in space, then we can translate it to human studies. We can observe processes happening much faster, understand them better and eventually use that knowledge to improve health for people here on Earth.鈥�

鈥淚f we see some acceleration of aging in space, then … we can observe processes happening much faster, understand them better and eventually use that knowledge to improve health for people here on Earth.鈥� 鈥� Masternak

Those discoveries could eventually lead to therapies that slow age-related diseases, preserve organ function and improve quality of life for everyone as they age.

鈥淥ur understanding of aging is very complex,鈥� Masternak says. 鈥淎ging isn’t simply wrinkles or cosmetic changes. It鈥檚 the gradual and cascading failure of multiple organs and biological systems that happen at the same time. By understanding what starts that process and where it happens, we have a better chance of preventing many diseases before they develop. That is one of the biggest outstanding questions.鈥�

Students Positioned at the Forefront of Space Medicine

College of Medicine students are also benefitting from space medicine research. Biomedical sciences Ph.D. student Md聽Tanjim Alam聽鈥�25MS聽joined Masternak’s laboratory during his聽biotechnology聽master’s program after initially planning to study cancer in relation to aging biology. Then he was introduced to space medicine, including processing astronaut samples from commercial space travelers to study how extreme environments affect human biology. That research has inspired him.

鈥淚 want to keep exploring the unknown,鈥� Alam says. 鈥淚 really want to understand how space travel influences human health, particularly its effects on aging and cancer.鈥�

叠颈辞迟别肠丑苍辞濒辞驳测听驳谤补诲耻补迟别听蝉迟耻诲别苍迟听厂补谤补丑听厂.听厂颈诲诲颈辩颈听鈥�24听says the interdisciplinary nature of the research attracted her to the space medicine and aging lab.

鈥淲hen people think of aging, they think only about elderly populations,鈥� says Siddiqi, who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree as a Burnett Honors Scholar in biomedical sciences. 鈥淏ut we study aging across different stages of life and different environments, including space. I’ll always be focused on improving quality of life. I want to better understand diseases that are increasingly prevalent and find ways to recognize them earlier, before they progress to later stages.鈥�

Funding and Disclosure:

搁别辫谤别蝉别苍迟颈苍驳听鲍颁贵,听Natalie Hayslip聽鈥�24聽served as first author, while聽Sarah Ashiqueali聽鈥�21MS 鈥�24PhD, Xiang Zhu, Ridwan Hussein聽鈥�22聽and聽Mishfak聽Mansoor also contributed to the research.聽Researchers from聽Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine,聽Universidade聽Federal de Pelotas,聽the聽University of聽Pittsburgh聽and聽the聽University of North Carolina at Chapel聽Hill聽also聽contributed.

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Award Number (FAIN): 2317758(MMM), Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Research Program of the聽性视界传媒 Department of Health,聽Public Health Research, Biomedical Research Program聽24A12 (MMM), and the National Science Centre, Poland UMO-2023/51/B/NZ5/00498 (MMM).

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the awarding agencies.

At the聽性视界传媒聽College of Health Professions聽and Sciences Rehabilitation Innovation Center, clothing becomes a tool for care. Students are combining health expertise and design to help people reclaim independence, confidence and comfort in daily living.

Through the Spring 2026 Health Tech Innovators Adaptive Clothing Hackathon, students across disciplines including physical therapy, health sciences, medicine, health services administration, and engineering worked together to redesign everyday garments around the needs of people facing medical, cognitive, and sensory challenges.

This year鈥檚 project immersed students in real world healthcare challenges, pairing interprofessional teams with patient volunteers in the community and their caregivers to identify barriers created by traditional clothing and create personalized solutions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to build something that works,鈥� says Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Healthcare Innovation Bari Hoffman, who led the program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 another thing to build something that鈥檚 usable, comfortable and actually fits into someone鈥檚 daily activities.鈥�

贬耻尘补苍-颁别苍迟别谤别诲听顿别蝉颈驳苍

For聽physical therapy聽doctoral student Ashley Peitz, the project revealed how something as ordinary as getting dressed can become physically exhausting when clothing isn鈥檛 designed with accessibility in mind.

鈥淲e鈥檙e working with a stroke survivor, and he wears a device on his left leg and has difficulty getting pants on and off without聽his聽[WalkAide聽device]聽getting in the way,鈥� Peitz says.聽鈥淚t makes things like going to the bathroom take longer, or just getting dressed take a little longer, which is fatiguing for him.鈥�

Students began the multi-month project by hearing from entrepreneurs in the adaptive clothing industry before interviewing and assessing their patient volunteers to better understand their daily routines, needs and personal preferences.

For Peitz鈥檚 team, those conversations revealed not only the physical challenges their volunteer faces, but also his desire to maintain a sense of normalcy and personal style.

鈥淗is main goal was finding an easier way to take his garments on and off while still looking like everyday attire,鈥� Peitz says.聽鈥淓veryone wants to fit in.聽Even something as simple as not having a shirt that fits correctly,聽or allows for your medical device to fit underneath,聽can make you feel outside the norm.鈥�

滨苍苍辞惫补迟颈辞苍听罢丑谤辞耻驳丑听贰尘辫补迟丑测

After developing a garment design plan, presenting it for peer feedback and securing materials, students quickly learned the project required more than creativity. It demanded adaptability, communication and collaboration across disciplines.

鈥淚 think a lot of times, engineers think of聽a聽really cool, innovative聽idea, but sometimes the聽comfort聽and practicality of a human actually using it isn鈥檛 the most ideal,鈥澛爏ays聽mechanical engineering聽major聽Jannah聽Barakat. 鈥淵ou shift from more of a product standpoint to聽more of a聽human-centered聽approach.鈥�

鈥淚’m able to be a professional problem solver and learn how I can take something that is different for somebody else and really cater it to their needs.鈥� 鈥� Sari Greenstein, 性视界传媒 student

Health sciences聽major Sari Greenstein and her team designed clothing for Marlie, a young girl with cerebral palsy who loves bright colors and Disney, especially Princess Tiana. They modified a sweatshirt and sweatpants with openings for a medical port and feeding tube and added zippered access points to the arms and the legs to make dressing and undressing easier for caregivers.

鈥淚t’s a process聽[with]聽a lot of聽iteration聽and a lot of cultivation,鈥� Greenstein says.聽鈥淚’m able to聽be a professional problem solver and learn how I can take something that is different for somebody else and really cater it to their needs.鈥�

Mission-Driven Work

During fabrication day, students assembled their garments with guidance from sewing professionals. Volunteers later returned to try on the finished outfits and provide feedback on the fit before final adjustments were made.

The project culminated in a final presentation during which student teams explained their designs and the patient volunteers modeled the clothing.

鈥淲e are not just changing clothing,鈥� Hoffman says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e actually changing how people move through their daily activities, how they feel about themselves and how independently they can live.鈥�

The experience also reinforced the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare.

鈥淢y biggest takeaway from this聽project is how important it is to work with all the other professions, especially in healthcare,鈥澛燩eitz says. 鈥淲e all need to come together to make the patient鈥檚 health our first priority.鈥�

The Health Tech Innovators聽program was developed in part through a grant from VentureWell to promote innovation in healthcare technology.聽础诲诲颈迟颈辞苍补濒听蝉upport and materials were provided聽迟丑谤辞耻驳丑听funding from the Chesley G. Magruder Foundation.

After years of research and development聽led by聽experts at聽性视界传媒聽in collaboration with researchers聽from聽universities across the U.S.聽and in Europe, the Virtual Experience Research Accelerator (VERA) has reached two major milestones: powering its first full-scale study to address one of virtual reality鈥檚 most persistent barriers to adoption and awarding its first use grant聽to enhance immersive learning and information聽across industries.

VERA, a聽platform funded by the聽U.S.聽National Science Foundation, is the first, large-scale system for extended reality human subjects research and designed to advance the speed, scale and scope of immersive research. The platform enables immersive researchers to design, deploy, and manage virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) studies with remote participants therefore significantly improving the quality of the science, while reducing costs, lowering logistical barriers and expanding participant reach.

鈥淣o one has built anything like VERA before,鈥� says Pegasus Professor Gregory Welch, lead principal investigator on VERA. 鈥淭he team was really starting from scratch to create this national platform, integrating AI technologies and establishing policies and procedures that will produce methodologically rigorous behavioral data.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited for VERA to聽now聽start聽to run聽in an open beta mode and reach these two firsts,鈥澛燱elch continues.

Accelerating Understanding of Cybersickness

For its first major large-scale study聽leveraging聽remote participants, VERA is helping researchers address one of the most persistent challenges in virtual reality: cybersickness.

Cybersickness occurs when symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and discomfort are caused by a mismatch between visual motion in a headset and the user鈥檚 physical motion. Associate Professor of Computer Science Gerd Bruder, who is an affiliate researcher in the Institute of Simulation and Training, is leading the research study in collaboration with other 性视界传媒 researchers and external partners.

鈥淯nderstanding聽who is聽susceptible聽to cybersickness is critical to improving VR accessibility,聽making聽VR聽more comfortable for all users聽and聽enabling聽broader adoption across research, education and industry,鈥� Bruder聽says.

Early data collection highlights the聽powerful聽capabilities of the VERA platform to accelerate VR research at an unprecedented scale.

In just 15 cumulative days, VERA had more than 250 participants聽complete聽the full study protocol. In comparison, the聽original in-lab study collected data from聽just聽30 participants聽and in traditional VR research聽settings,聽studies with hundreds of participants often require several months to complete.

For the study, each participant experiences a controlled VR rollercoaster ride on their own headset and provides sickness ratings at periodic intervals, a pre- and post- exposure questionnaire, an in-VR visual acuity assessment, and continuous head-tracking data. Each session is completed in approximately 30 minutes at home.

鈥淭he sectors where VERA can make an impact聽are聽expansive, from healthcare to workforce training to accessibility to learning.鈥�

Enrollment is ongoing with a target of 2,000 participants. Preliminary analyses already suggest meaningful individual differences in how quickly and severely participants experience cybersickness.

鈥淰ERA was built to study problems like this with a combination of speed, scale and experimental complexity not previously possible,鈥� Welch says. 鈥淭he sectors where VERA can make an impact are expansive, from healthcare to workforce training to accessibility to learning.鈥�

Groundbreaking Immersive Learning Project

For the first project selected in its Use Grant program, VERA is supporting innovative research to study how different immersive technologies engage learners in different ways. The study will help inform how to leverage emerging technologies in education, cultural institutions, public engagement and more.

The grant was awarded to the聽San Jos茅 State University School of Information Library Technology Integration Lab in Silicon Valley and New Media Learning,聽one of the largest providers of virtual reality programming in public libraries.

The project will support a collaborative virtual reality research environment integrated with VERA with participants from across the U.S. in public libraries, universities and other sites.

Researchers will collect behavioral and interaction data including attention patterns, object interaction, navigation pathways, movement, clicks, engagement metrics, and time-on-task, supplemented by surveys and participant feedback. The resulting research environment will serve a scalable prototype for future applications to make immersive learning experiences more accessible to communities worldwide.

A distinguishing feature of the project is the active involvement of San Jos茅 State University undergraduate and graduate students from the School of Information who will work alongside faculty researchers and technology partners to gain hands-on experience.

鈥淏eing selected as the first VERA Use Grant recipient is both an honor and an extraordinary opportunity,鈥� says Anthony S. Chow, professor in the San Jos茅 State University School of Information and founder of the Library Technology Integration Lab. 鈥淭hrough this collaboration, we hope to generate research that helps libraries, educators, museums and community organizations leverage virtual reality to address some of society鈥檚 most important challenges while creating meaningful research opportunities for students.鈥�

鈥淲e are excited to welcome聽San Jos茅 State University聽and New Media Learning as the first recipients of a VERA聽Use聽Grant,鈥� Welch聽says. 鈥淭heir聽expertise聽in libraries, immersive learning, public聽engagement聽and emerging technologies makes them ideal partners聽for聽demonstrating聽how VERA can accelerate impactful XR research. We believe this collaboration will help聽establish聽new models for studying learning, engagement, and information behavior in immersive environments.鈥�

性视界传媒 College of Medicine Associate Professor Claudia Andl, a throat and oral cancer researcher, is investigating how a simple probiotic could treat and prevent both conditions..

性视界传媒 College of Medicine Associate Professor Claudia Andl, a throat and oral cancer researcher, is investigating how a simple probiotic could treat and prevent both conditions. The research is funded by a one-year, more than $380,000 grant from the 性视界传媒 Department of Health鈥檚 性视界传媒 Cancer Innovation Fund.

Probiotics are live microorganisms 鈥� usually bacteria or yeasts 鈥� that support and strengthen health by increasing the body鈥檚 population of healthy cells. Many people take probiotics to improve gut health and digestion. Andl鈥檚 research is focused on using a healthy bacteria called Lactobacillus spp. to treat esophageal damage caused by acid reflux and improve the microbial environment in the esophagus to reduce the risk of cancer.

In patients with acid reflux 鈥� as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic and more severe form of the digestive condition 鈥� stomach acid burns through the lining of the esophagus, causing inflammation and DNA damage to surrounding cells. Over time, those cellular changes can create a condition called Barrett鈥檚 esophagus, which increases the risk for esophageal cancer. In addition, when the throat鈥檚 bacterial environment becomes dominated by stomach acids and salts, healthy bacteria struggle to survive. Harmful bacteria take their place, causing further cell damage and inflammation that increases cancer risk. Introducing Lactobacillus spp. into disease models has solved both issues.

鈥淲e all talk about how important it is to eat yogurt or drink kombucha so that we maintain a healthy bacterial residence in all your organs. And it鈥檚 the same in the esophagus.鈥�

鈥淭he reintroduction of beneficial bacteria works two-fold,鈥� Andl says. 鈥淚t restores a normal environment again, but also these Lactobacilli are known to suppress inflammation and repair the DNA damage.鈥�

鈥淲e all talk about how important it is to eat yogurt or drink kombucha so that we maintain a healthy bacterial residence in all your organs,鈥� Andl continues. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 the same in the esophagus.鈥�

Early results have shown a reduction in Barrett鈥檚 esophagus, and if cancer develops at all, it occurs much later than in models not treated with the probiotic.

Andl says she hopes her research will inform new therapies and provide more information on how to keep the body鈥檚 microbial balance healthy to fight disease. She notes this is especially important as data also shows Barett鈥檚 esophagus and esophageal cancer are increasing in patients under ages 60-70, the average age for these patient populations.

鈥淲e aim to improve outcomes for the large number of reflux patients at risk for cancer,鈥� Andl says. 鈥淧laying a role in that would be incredibly rewarding.鈥�

Andl joined 性视界传媒 in 2016 after receiving her Ph.D. in cell biology from the University Duisburg-Essen in Germany and conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania.

This research is sponsored by the 性视界传媒 Cancer Innovation Fund and the 性视界传媒 Department of Health.